Francis j



F. J. MELVIN.

ROAD CART.

Patented 061;. 16, 18 88.

WITNESSES: 'INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS J. MELVIN, OF OlVOSSO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWINA. GOULD, OF SAME PLACE.

ROAD-CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,060, dated October16, 1888.

Application filed December 31, 1887. Serial No. 259,524.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS J. MELVIN, of Owosso, in the county ofShiawassce and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Road-Carts, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawi ngs,in which Figure I isa sectional side elevation of my improved road-cart. Fig. II is a rearelevation of same, and Fig. III a perspective view showing the manner ofattaching the side springs and seat-risers to the cross-bar.

The object of my invention is to construct an improved road-cart whichis designed to combine lightness, strength, and durability,

with consequent light draft and ease of motion. The advantages obtainedare an almost entire freedom from the unpleasant oscillating or rockingmotion which has heretofore been inseparable from vehicles of thisdescription, the best attainable balance with the con sequent comfort tohorse and driver, the greatly-reduced tendency ofjolting or th rowingwhen passing over crossways or other obstruetions, and the increasedsafety due to the mode of adjusting the load upon the axle.

My invention consists in the peculiar arrangement and relation of thevarious parts, and will be readily understood by reference 0 to theaccompanying drawings, in which- A represents the seat-riser,securcd byclips to the side spring, B, the upper leaf of which is extended forwardand hinged on a shacklebolt, 0, to the cross-bar D. By this means of (Nomodel.)

attachment the seat-riser has a peculiarly easy movement and renders themotion of rising more comfortable than usual in this class of devices.The side springs, B, extend rearwardly and downwardly to a pointdirectly above the axle, where they connect with the to cross-spring E,which is supported centrally by the bracket F. The endsof this bracketmay be welded or otherwise secured to the axle G. This disposition ofthe bracket and axle constitutes a truss,by means of which the load'isplaced near the ends of the axle. The great advantages of thisarrangement are manifest. The semicircular dash-board H is attached atone end to the crossbar D by an eyebolt, the otherend being flanged andbolted to the seat-riser at a point perpendicular to the axle. Thethills I are rigidly secured to the cross-bar D and axle G by suitableclips.

That I claim as new is A road'cart having side springs secured to theseat risers, the upper leaf of said springs extending forwardly andhinged to the cross bar, in combination with the rear ends of saidsprings connected with the cross-spring and with the axle and shafts,substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony that 1. claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand,this 28th day of September, 1887, in the presence of witnesses.

FRANCIS J. MELVIN. \Vitnesses:

E. L. BREWER, E. R. SANFORD.

